Subhash K Jha: You and your husband Daniel are now proud parents of an adopted girl. How does it feel?
Sunny: Unbelievably joyous! It's been a lot of paperwork for the last two years. But since Nisha has come home, it's been a dream come true! She is the most beautiful little girl in the world. Always happy and smiling and showing us so much love. We are so blessed she has picked us to be her parents.
SKJ: How has Nisha changed your life?
Sunny: Completely changed my whole life, my concerns are different, my outlook on life is different and if for one minute I'm not having a good day, I look at Nisha and she gives me that big smile and everything that's wrong with the world doesn't exist. She is the light of our lives!
SKJ: How do the two of you divide your time looking after Nisha?
Sunny: We try to do a lot together as a family, as much as possible. Everything from when she wakes up, to breakfast, walks, going to the park, dropping her to school, cleaning up after her and trying to figure out everything she loves to do. When we have to work, we just switch off. We have help but prefer to do everything ourselves for Nisha.
SKJ: Why did you prefer adopting Nisha rather than having your own child?
Sunny: I have always wanted to adopt a child since I was very young and having the right partner Daniel to also want to take that journey with me is a blessing. It's just one more thing that my husband and I are on the same page about. We still want to be working parents at this moment and Nisha at this age allows us to have that because we can dictate our own schedule.
SKJ: What future plans do you have for your child?
Sunny: Our main focus at this time is just to help her adjust to her new life. She will go to school because she is so smart and wants to confront all the opportunities to grow mentally and physically. Our plans at this moment are more about the immediate needs than many years down the road. Daniel and I will focus on teaching her to be a independent woman who can become the President if she wants to, or a doctor, artist, or a beekeeper (laughs). The world is her oyster and Daniel and I are here to help all her dreams come true.
SKJ: What would your parents have felt if they saw how good you are with your child?
Sunny: I would assume they would be so happy for us and maybe even be here in India with us on this amazing journey of life with her.
SKJ: How difficult is the adoption procedure in India. Do you think it should be made easier so more people would opt for adoption?
Sunny: The process is difficult but I believe it should not be easy. These young children and babies deserve good homes and parents that can provide for them and their future. We had to go through rigorous interviews, paper work, get permission from the US government and the Indian Government.
We are still filing paper work at this very moment and will go through meetings with the orphanage and government officials through the next few years. I am happy that the Indian Government is so diligent in this.
SKJ: So all the effort was worth it?
Sunny: Nisha’s safety and happiness is what is most important. I know that there are millions of kids up for adoption and I know the government is trying to find parents for these children as fast as they can.
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